Big things are coming to Victoria’s tiniest towns with new support from the Allan Labor Government, making our smallest communities even better places to live, work, and visit.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh announced a new round of the Labor Government’s $20 million Tiny Towns Fund is open, with grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to boost tourism, livability and community pride in towns with up to 5,000 people.
From new barbecues, bike tracks and walking trails to club and community hall upgrades, the grants will support towns to bring to life projects that celebrate community spirit and make a positive difference to locals.
The first round of the Labor Government’s Tiny Towns Fund is already supporting more than 200 projects in 181 towns across regional Victoria and interface councils, backing stronger communities by enhancing local towns. The Fund boosts livability and local jobs and creates more reasons for people to visit Victoria’s great regional towns.
In the most recent round of Tiny Towns grants, Orbost Exhibition Centre received $50,000 to retrofit their existing performing arts space to allow the town to attract touring exhibitions and deliver big screen film events.
Swifts Creek Pony Club also received $29,976 for a multi-purpose horse arena, while the East Gippsland Landcare Network received $40,622 to upgrade their community reseeding facility in Mt Taylor.
Other East Gippsland recipients included The Swan Reach Recreation Reserve Committee of Management with $46,032 – which will allow them to install a new undercover area and BBQ at the Swan Reach Recreation Reserve, and the Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre who received $8,000 to host a community expo.
Townships that have not yet received a Tiny Towns grant, or that have worthy project ideas to boost community resilience, recovery and economic growth are encouraged to apply in this second round, with updates made to the application process to make it even easier for smaller, volunteer-run community groups to apply.
The fund is a part of the Labor Government’s record $45 Billion investment since 2014 in projects and programs that support regional and rural Victoria.
For more information visit rdv.vic.gov.au/tinytownsfund or suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/grants/tiny-towns-fund
Quotes attributable to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan
“Supporting projects that make small communities great is one of the ways we encourage their vibrancy, making them even better places to visit and live.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney
“Now we’re giving more tiny towns a chance to make their own projects a reality – creating local jobs, boosting economies and attracting more visitors to experience our great regional towns.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
“From pony clubs to streetscapes and rec reserves, we were able to support East Gippsland groups through the last round of Tiny Towns.”
“If you missed out last time, I encourage you to apply so we can make beautiful East Gippsland towns even better places to live.”
